The piano works of Charles-Valentin Alkan (1813–88) are among the most demanding ever written – but they can also gleam with a fierce joy and...

The piano works of Charles-Valentin Alkan (1813–88) are among the most demanding ever written – but they can also gleam with a fierce joy and twinkle with mischievous humour, so it’s hardly surprising to find his works for piano duet bubbling with freewheeling energy. The two works for pedal piano – transcribed here for two pianos by Roger Smalley – show a more solemn side to this devoutly religious composer, though they, too, have their own charge of excitement and Alkan’s trademark eccentric originality.